Turbine engine



Jan. 18,1927. 1,615,062

. W. H\ BELKNAP TURBINE ENGINE Filed June 18, 1926 V 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR (William lfflellap BY TORNEY Jan. 18, 1927.

w. H. BELKNAP TURBINE-ENGINE 4 Shets-Sheet 2 T'roRNEY INVENTOR W/illiani Filed June 181 1926 1615 Jan. 18,1927. H'NBELKNAP 62 TURBINE ENGINE Filed June 18. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR I-AZTTORNEY D Jan. 18,1921. 1,615,052

W. H. BELKNAP TURBINE ENGINE Filed June is. 1926 I 4-Sheets-Sheet 4 'TTQRNEY Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

WILLIAM H. BELKNAP, OF BROOKLYN, NEW" YORK.

TURBINE ENGINE.

Application filed June 18,

This invention relates to turbine engines, to be operated by steam, compressed air, or power gases, and one object of the invention is to provide an engine that will operate as a. multiple expansion engine, with power in-- creased by controlled expansion, a further object of the invention being to provide a plurality of cylinder liners or rings, which constructively include the salientpower producing parts, form space for a revolving rotor and form stages of steam expansion.

A further object is to provide improved means for introducing a main steam volume into pockets of a rotor at the first stage of expansion so that the steam will be instantaneously exhausted from said pockets, through connective channels, into the pockets of a second stage in close proximity, and so that the steam will be instantaneously exhausted from the pockets of a second stage into the pockets of a third stage through connective channels, and so that the steam will be instantaneously exhausted from the pockets of a third stage into the pockets of a fourth stage into channels connective with an exhaust pipe leading through the wall of the turbine casing.

A further object is to provide a plurality of chambers in the concave surface of the turbine casing to concentrate the steam volume at different stages of expansion.

A further object is to provide said cylinder liners with nozzles approximately tangentially arranged over the periphery of retor, with exhaust ports in juxtaposition to these nozzles and to provide by-passes connecting said exhaust ports with the afore said chambers for concentration of the steam volume and redirectingthe steam volume at different stages and to arrange said nozzle and exhaust ports and'by-passes in numbers proportionate to the steam expansion, the ensemble being to provide a system of power production in continuity through the engine, and, with these objects in view, the invention consists of an engine of the class, which is rugged in construction, easily assembled and simple in operation and which will produce greater power with less fuel.

The invention described and claimed here in is an improvement on that shown and described in a prior patent granted to me Aug. 19, 1924, No. 1,505,187, and is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, and

1926. Serial No. 116,72'5.

in which the separate parts of my invention are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved type of turbine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1..

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view illustrating a portion of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view illustrating a portion of F i 7 Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view of Fig. 9 taken on the line 10-1O looking in the direction of arrows.

In the drawings I have diagrammatically illustrated at 15 a cylinder, (divided into two parts horizontally for easier casting) open at both ends, with plates or heads 16 for closing said openings. An intake opening 17 admits steam to said cylinder, with end plates extending into bearings 18 to suitably support the shaft 19 and rotor 20 with. steam tight glands 21. The concave surface of said cylinder is cast with a steam intake chamber 22 and two chambers 23 and 24 for concentration of exhaust steam.

Fitting snugly within the cylinder and properly secured in place are three annular cylinder liners or rings 25, 26, and 27 the liners being cast and machined and so spaced that parts of their convex surfaces form cover plates for the chambers 22, 23, and 24.

Two of these liners, 25 and 26, are fitted with nozzles 28, 29, and 30 tangentially arranged and circumferentially spaced around the periphery of the rotor 20, and increasing in number successively at the different expansion stages of the steam volume and terminating closely to the rotor pockets.

Each of said nozzles has an independent port or niche 31, 32, or 33, cast in the liners, from which extend exhaust passages or bypasses 40, 41 connecting the ports with concentration chambers 23 and 24.

The third liner 2'? has a multiplicity of nozzles 34 drilled tangentially or diagonally through it, leading from exhaust ports 33 and terminating closely to the pockets 35.

Keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft is the rotor 20 revolving within the rings 25, 26, and 27. This rotor is provided with pockets 36, 37, and 33 around its periphery, being milled out of the surface in annular series, beneath the respective series of nozzles in the liners. The rotor is designed to fit closely within the rings, but to rotate freely, with ample clea ance for expansion and thrust, yet close enough to receive the full force of steam discharged from the nozzles.

The cover of the rotor has a circumferential series of pockets 35 milled out of its rim 44 at an angle with nozzles 34 drilled through the liner 27. The nozzles or multiplicity of ports 3 are each drilled through the liner ring 27 in a plane parallel to the axis of the rotor but diagonally with respect to the plane of the rim L4. The delivery ends of these ports or nozzles 34- communicate with the rabbet 45 formed in the ring 27 and into which the rim ll projects loosely, the same passing finally outward around the rim.

The final exhaust 39 is cast in one of the end plates or heads 16 fitted for P pe connection (not shown).

In the operation of the engine it will be understood that high pressure steam introduced into the cylinder through intake pipe 17 leading into steam chamber 2 is first passed through nozzles 28 into poclr ts 36 to actuate the rotor 20 and the greater part of the steam volume is instantaneously exhausted into the ports 31 (upon impact with the rotor) intantaneonsly conducted by the by-passes 40 into concentration chamber forming a first expansion stage. From chamber 23 the steam passes through nozzles 29 into pockets 3?, instantaneously exhausted into the ports 32, instantaneously conducted through lay-passes 411 into concentration chamber 24:, forming a second expansion stage. From 2a the steam passes through nozzles 30 into pockets 38, is instantaneously exhausted into ports 33, forming a third expansion stage, and from these ports 33 the steam passes through the multiplicity of nozzles 34, impinges on the Walls of the pockets 35 and is exhausted into the chamber 42 forming practically a fourth stage. From the chamber 42 the steam is exhausted from the engine through the opening 39 in the end plate 16.

In the operation of the engine it is to be expected that a portion of the steam volume may not travel through the rotor, but since the nozzles 34L are diagonal with the peripln cry of the rotor, this steam leakage must enter these nozzles at some points in the circumference, thus conserving most of the power of this leakage, resulting in practically all the power value of the steam volume operating against the walls of the pockets to actuate the rotor and shaft.

While the very small percentage of the steam volume will escape into space l3 remote from the final exhaust, it will fill the space immediately, thus banking any further leakage in that direction.

It will be understood that while I have shown the principle of my invention in the th'awinp s, there may be some details of: construction not shown and that therefore I am not necessarily limited to the exact construction shown, and that modifications that do not depart from the scope of the appended claims may be made.

I claim: I

l. in a steam turbine, the combination of a cylindrical rotor having formed on its curved surface a succession of series of independent pockets for impact of steam and having at one end a radially projected flange formed on the side adjacent to the rotor with a series of pockets, a cylinder surroundingthe rotor and spaced therefrom, lining means between the rotor and the cylinder, means to admit high pressure steam through the lining means for impact in the pockets of the first series, means to convey the steam therefrom to each succeeding series of pockets, the lining means being provided with a multiplicity of ports extending at an angle to the aforesaid rim pockets and serving to convey the steam from the last preceding series of rotor pockcts to said rim pockets.

2. Mechanism as set forth in claim 1 in which the last mentioned multiplicity of ports are arranged in circular series extending entirely around the rotor and each directed substantially spirally with respect thereto.

3. In a stoma turbine, the combination of a rotor having formed on its curved sur- 'ace a succession of series of steam impact pockets, a cylinder surrounding the rotor and spaced therefrom, supporting means for the rotor extending through the ends of the cylinder, a series of lining rings fitted in the cylinder and located in the space between the cylinder and the rotor, said rings being provided with as many series of niches as there are series of rotor pockets and communicating therewith respectively, means to admit steam in succession to the respective rotor pockets whence it passes directly into said series of niches, means to convey the exhaust steam from each series of niches to the next admission and exhaust means, and means to exhaust finally the steam from the engine.

4-. Mechanism as set forth in claim 3 in which the final exhaust from the last series of rotor pockets above specified includes a multiplicity of ports extending each in a plane at right angles to the plane of the last preceding series of admission ports.

5. Mechanism as set forth in claim 3 in which the means for directing pressure steam into the respective rotor pockets comprises a succession of series of nozzles arranged substantially tangentially to the rotor and each series being longer circumferentially than the next preceding series and all arranged in parallel planes transverse to the axis of the rotor, while the final exhaust passes through a multiplicity of ports each arranged substantially spirally of the rotor but lying in a plane parallel thereto.

6. The herein described steam turbine comprising a hollow cylindrical rotor whose curved surface is provided with a succession of spaced parallel series of steam impact pockets and having at one end a closure head with a rim projecting radially be yond the curved surface aforesaid and pro- Vided on one side with a circumferential series of impact pockets, a cylinder surrounding and spaced from the rotor, a series of lining rings in the space between the rotor and the cylinder, means to admit high pressure steam through successsive series of nozzles through said lining rings and into the first mentioned rotor pockets in succession, the last lining ring being provided with a multiplicity of ports each in a plane parallel to the axis of the rotor and directed angularly toward the rotor rim pockets, and means to exhaust finally the steam from the cylinder after passing around the rotor rim.

7. Mechanism as set forth in claim (5 in which the last mentioned lining rim is provided with an annular rabbet into which projects radially and loosely the rotor rim, the last mentioned ports being in communication with the rabbet.

8. A turbine engine of the class described comprising a cylinder with openings at opposite ends, plates for closing said openings, means for admission of high pressure steam to said cylinder, a shaft mounted in said cylinder, a rotor provided with a plurality of pockets arranged in series on its peripl'iery secured to said shaft, a plurality of annular cylinder liners corresponding to various steam pressures independent of and mounted in said cylinder, the high pressure liner having a plurality of tangentially arranged intake ports connected with the intake of the cylinder circumferentially spaced about the rotor pockets, with also a plurality of spaced exhaust ports in juxtaposition to said ports, the second cylinder liner cont-aining a greater number of pressure ports than the high pressure ring tangentially arranged and circumferentially spaced about the rotor pockets with a corresponding number of spaced exhaust ports in juxtaposition to said intermediate pressure ports, means for connecting the high pressure exhaust ports with the intermediate pressure ports, a part of said second liner also containing an increased number of low pressure ports with an equal number of exhaust ports in juxtaposition both spaced circumferentially of the liner, means for connecting the intermediate exhaust ports with the low pressure ports, a second low pressure liner containing a multiplicity of angularly arranged nozzles drilled through its circumference in an axial direction and spaced opposite the radially projecting rim of the rotor end, said rim containing a plurality of pockets, means for connecting the exhaust ports of low pressure or second liner with the multiplicity of nozzles aforesaid, and means for connecting the exhaust opening adjacent to the rim pockets with. an exhaust.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. 7

WILLIAM H. BELKNAP. 

